When Harry Willard (Fred MacMurray) packs up his wife (Jane Wyman) and kids to set sail on a long-awaited “dream” vacation in romantic France, he and the family encounter some unforeseen adventures in Bon Voyage, which journeyed into theaters on this day in 1962. There’s plenty of amore in store for the Willard family, both welcome and unwelcome. Daughter Amy (Deborah Walley) is wooed by a wealthy teen, while wife Katie fends off the advances of an amorous playboy. Son Elliott (Tommy Kirk) is mesmerized by a pretty French maid, while the mischievous youngest son Skipper (Kevin Corcoran) seems to be always getting lost. The Willard family, far from their home in Indiana, experiences culture shock firsthand with the vast cultural differences of France, including encounters with a prostitute. The inclusion of a streetwalker marks a very unique milestone in the history of Disney’s family films, and although dealt with not only tastefully, but humorously, this was met with great criticism. Thus, Walt Disney bid bon voyage to prostitutes and other racy situations in his future films.
